EXCLUSIVE:Apostle partners Denis Leary and Jim Serpico have come aboard as executive producers of Burn, a feature documentary about the city of Detroit seen through the eyes of its firefighters. The pair behind the FX firefighter drama Rescue Me have launched a campaign on the crowd-funding site Kickstarter to seek finishing financing for the docu, which centers on the struggle of the men and women charged with the task of saving a city many have written off. Burn will be co-directed by Tom Putnam and Brenna Sanchez and is targeting the 2012 festival season. “This film will help raise the public’s awareness to the work firefighters around the country do, as well as the sacrifices they make, particularly in these times of severe budget cuts,” Leary said. The filmmakers are offering products and experiences to entice Kickstarter donors, including a Boardwalk Empire set visit and an autographed helmet signed by the Rescue Me cast. So far, Burn has been funded via grants and donations from the likes of GM and Apple. A portion of the film’s proceeds will go to The Leary Firefighters Foundation to purchase equipment for the Detroit Fire Department.

14 Comments

Rescue this • on Oct 25, 2011 9:28 am

Just checked the Kickstarter page for Burn. They need $80,000 to complete their project. Then checked Denis’s salary for his last season on Rescue Me. Not his resids, or producer’s share, just his salary — $350,000 per episode. And I can’t turn on my TV without hearing his voice pimping Ford trucks and god knows what else. Just saying…

Truth-o-Meter • on Oct 25, 2011 9:28 am

Amen, Rescue This.

Whatever • on Oct 25, 2011 9:28 am

Exactly. Put your money where your mouth is, Dennis.

Unfair • on Oct 25, 2011 9:28 am

So just because a guy made some (and continues to) make money working that means he’s personally responsible for funding every documentary (or film for that matter) that comes down the pike regarding firefighters?

Think about it…With them lending their names and support to this project that brings a lot of life to it.

You mention Leary’s salary and earnings but how about knocking GM and Apple who’ve also helped fund. They might bring in just a little more than Leary in a year.

Just sayin’…

Rescue this • on Oct 25, 2011 9:28 am

Not knocking. Nor am I saying he should fund every firefighting doc out there. But, he has chosen to produce (and reap the accolades and goodwill that comes with publicly announcing that he is doing so) what sounds like a very worthy production. I just think the most efficient way to get this thing finished would be to reach into his own deep pocket. Not knocking his salary. I’m jealous of that! And I LOVED Rescue Me and his work on the show. He made a lot of money for FX and earned every penny he was paid. Guess I was taught that the more meritorious way of giving was anonymously, and who knows, perhaps Denis already does a lot of that.

Truth-o-Meter • on Oct 25, 2011 9:28 am

Why is it that we always debate the pensions of teachers and other unions but not firefighters, police and military?

Teachers don’t provide a vital public service?

I’m so sick of the boot-licking of these three groups — They’re doing THE JOB THEY SIGNED UP FOR. They know the risk, they take it, and they don’t ask for tributes, awards, documentaries, benefits and scripted series that inevitably over-dramatize their real lives. But hey, let’s give ‘em all early retirement!

And god love ‘em, I appreciate their service, but not at the expense of others and not to be used as a political weapon to move the focus away from the real issues. (for example, the *FBI* keeps our country safe from domestic terrorists, not the military in Iraq and Afghanistan, so why is my tax money paying for trillion dollar wars? And any politician who doesn’t say they’re “tough on crime” is a loser, while billions go to a massive prison-industrial complex that locks up weed dealers and puts to death criminals so a Texas governor can compensate for his small dick.)

How many docs and TV shows do we see about teachers, service workers or longshoremen and how many about cops, firemen and military?

I realize I’m opening myself up for the “How dare you not support the cops/firemen/troops!” attack…and that’s my point.

So Denis and co. come on as executive producers and the first thing they do is set up a Kickstarter page. Really? The actual doc makers could have done that on their own. Woohoo.

kitchin • on Oct 25, 2011 9:28 am

Sounds like an abuse of Kickstarter for publicity. A worthy project, but like Rescue This says, it can’t really be for fundraising. The last two seasons of Rescue Me were noticeably, very scrimpy. I always guessed FX slashed the budget and the salaries stayed the same! I’m leary of criticizing too lengthily much because it brought to screen some needed righteousness about 911 not covered elsewhere. And the NY actors were great. M.J. Fox!

Adrian • on Oct 25, 2011 9:28 am

Ironically, the now-capped Michigan film incentive has been blamed for the entire closing of a fire department in Allen Park (Detroit suburb). The state was losing millions in revenue to subsidize 40-42% of production costs. The new “OZ: the great and powerful”, which was the last big production to get the incentive before they capped it was awarded $40 million. One film. $40 million. Nuts.

Let’s face it — neither teachers nor firefighters make enough money for the outstanding work that they do.

Just to correct some of the comments — The Kickstarter page for “Burn” has been around for a year or so, placed there by Tom Putnam’s organization. The $80K they were asking for is chump change — but it would have allowed the production team to lock down the show with stylish post production.

Denis Leary not only acted in “Rescue Me”, he wrote every episode and served as an Executive Producer. The series DVD packages continue to be one of the highest grossing among TV programming sales, and a motion picture is being considered. Sony got him on the cheap for $375K per.

Tom Putnam, and his partners Brenna and Morgan, have prepared an oustanding documentary. We firefighters and medics have supported them with a few bucks here — some in-kind sponsorship there. With Leary’s name (and cash) attached to their film, who knows? Perhaps it will have a short term theatrical release before it makes its way to pay cable.

Allen Park had nothing to do with the cap. Allen Park’s city council jumped at a no-name “production company” moving into town and made a whole bunch of subsidies, tax breaks and other incentives to do so. Then the “production company” pulled out of the deal and folded. The gaping hole in the budget was plugged by raping the FD, PD and other public services. Don’t blame the FD for that one.

Eric • on Oct 25, 2011 9:28 am

If it makes you feel better I make 7.25 an hour with no benefits, incentives, or pats on the back. I’m a firefighter emt who serves a population of about 18k not including the nearby city of 90k we support everyday. Im paid only when theres a call but im required to staff my station for 24 hours. I run around 12 calls in that period give or take, including anything from gunshots to house fires. Just on saturday I had a roof come down me and my crew, thank god no one died, but the injuries that followed took a call from a lawyer for the dept to pay for. Medical costs that is. First time? Oh no no many times. The point is, no ones making a movie about me, specificaly me. And goddamit that makes me happy! Please stop complaining about it, none of us are heros especially teachers, at least mine through 12th grade, none of us asked for fake ass movies and half ass docs to be made. All we want is to try and make a difference in our communities, pay a lil back to those who are there for others in a different light. The people doing this don’t care about Detroit or firemen. They just care about the greenbacks.
Regards from a pissed off public servant…who still believes a little can go a long f-ing way.